APIA, 28 OCTOBER 2019 (SAMOA OBSERVER)—The implementation of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is key to progressing a “programme of action” by the 10 Pacific Island countries, that recently attended the 3rd China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum in Samoa. The BRI, which is the Chinese government’s global development strategy, was formally […]
Tag: China
Posted inOpinion
China, the Pacific, and the “debt trap” question
SYDNEY, 23 OCTOBER 2019 (THE INTERPRETER/Pacnews) — “Debt trap” diplomacy has been a recurrent rallying cry for critics of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its overseas infrastructure lending activities. Over the past two years, this debate has taken centre stage in the Pacific, with China accused of drowning these tiny economies in unsustainable […]
Posted inWorld News
Japan exports fall for 10th straight month in September
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s exports fell for a 10th straight month in September as trade tensions between the U.S. and China hit demand for machinery and other manufacturing mainstays, the government said Monday. The Finance Ministry said the trade deficit in September totaled $1.1 billion, a third consecutive month of red ink. Exports fell 5.2% […]
Posted inPacific News
Jitters as China spruiks Samoa BRI deals
APIA, 21 OCTOBER 2019 (SAMOA OBSERVER) — China is ramping up its efforts to win over island nations in Australia’s traditional sphere of influence, signing seven new agreements with Samoa at the weekend ahead of a meeting with Pacific leaders to spruik new Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects. China Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua is leading […]
Posted inWorld News
Hong Kong leaders apologize for water cannon use at mosque
HONG KONG (AP) —Hong Kong officials apologized to Muslim leaders Monday after riot police sprayed a mosque and bystanders with a water cannon while trying to contain pro-democracy demonstrations in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory. The city’s leader, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, and its police chief visited the Kowloon Mosque to apologize to the chief imam […]
Posted inPacific News
New report disputes Chinese ‘debt-trap diplomacy’ claims
SYDNEY, 21 OCTOBER 2109 (FINACIAL REVIEW) — The claim that China has engaged in “debt-trap diplomacy” by offering loans worth hundreds of billions of dollars to strategically located Pacific island nations, leaving them vulnerable to China’s influence, has been hosed down in a new Lowy Institute report. “The evidence to date suggests that China has […]